The End of the Weekend...

And I thought the work week was long! HA!
We had a fantastic time hanging out with K5 at The Meadow! She's a hoot! Everyone had a great time with her. She raked leaves and threw sticks with me. We threw rocks into the creek and found fossils and salamanders and got wet. She played in the sand with her baby brother and hugged him a lot. She got to ride on the tractor with her pappy and take a golf cart ride with her Gigi, baby brother, and her other Nana. She hung out with her Mimi, Auntie, Uncle, and her Aunt K. And she learned about mermaid rock. We made plans for camping out this summer. My K5 is a special girl.
After a day spent doing physical labor and having fun, we dropped K5 to her mom and then rushed home to shower (and check for ticks) before heading to an anniversary party for our very good friends parents. It was directly across the street from our house, which was convenient and we weren't late. They had good food and it was a good time. They're awesome people and I'm glad we could celebrate with them!
We kept Baby B Saturday night. He hated his bath, but went right to sleep when it was bedtime. Only... He woke at 2 am and stayed up until 4 am... And then... he was ready to face the day at 6 am... OY!!! He had his breakfast and played and was down for a nap before 9. Nanners also got a little (very little) nap. But then I had to be ready to go to the baseball game.
K3's school was represented at our local minor league ballpark today. We managed tickets through that man's work. We took K3's best friend with us. We're all a little sun burnt. K3 and his fellow students did an awesome job singing! We left after that (it was during the 7th inning stretch and we were all exhausted and burnt...)
We had an awesome dinner with the teenagers. We watched Frozen. I wrote. And now it's bedtime... And I'm more tired than I thought was possible...
Tomorrow starts the week again... I'm ready... I think...
Only a week and a half until the New York trip and only about 18 days until retreat!!....
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - Finally

This has been a really long week! I know I say that a lot lately and I also know it's the adjustment phase still going on. I've only been at the new job a month, so it's going to take some time to find my stride and, of course, the training phase takes a lot out of a person. And I'm working later than I ever have before, but getting up and doing as much as I always have. Today was rough for me for some reason - I hung up on a lot of people and felt like I asked too many questions, but no one else seemed to feel the same way... I don't know. Perspective I guess. Technically, it's only my second week at my desk since I spent two weeks in the store. I know I'm being way too hard on myself, but that's just how I roll. I think a lot of it's because I really like my job and I want to do well and it's frustrating to me that I don't know everything yet. (and it will take a while until I do. I knew that going in)
Anyway. Let's get to the list, shall we?
1. Work - every single day I see / hear / experience something that makes me realize this is where I want to be - that if I have to have a full time job, this is it. Perhaps that's why I'm so hard on myself. I don't want to screw it up and have them tell me not to come back. (and yes, if I had the choice, I would be home full time, but since I have no choice, this is the job I want)
2. Writing every night this week. It's been a struggle, but I've done it. My short story is coming along nicely and I love it.
3. Getting the pie sale completely finished - or almost. There's still money owed from one family, but it's only $12.00. I also informed the committee that I would not be chairing anymore fundraisers. My kid ages out in a few months and while we'll still help out for big events and probably remain on the committee for the transition, we won't be doing nearly as much as we currently do. I will probably miss it, but I'm not so sure after this pie sale. ha!
4. That Man taking care of dinners and shopping. He's not feeling great, and I told him I would take care of things, but he still did it. I think I only cooked dinner one night this week. I have, however, done dishes most nights because the K's have been underground with homework and rehearsals.
5. NYC trip with my girl in less than 2 weeks. We are both looking forward to it. We have some tentative plans for what we'll get into while in the Big Apple. We know we want to eat good food and check out a few stores and things. And we're very excited to see Cinderella on Broadway. I don't know if we will have other students in our group yet, but we're both hoping it's just her and I!
6. Retreat in less than 3 weeks! I am so very ready!! (well.. I have to pack and stuff) The retreat swag and most of the prizes have been purchased. My living room is full of stuff. I cannot wait and I cannot even begin to describe how much I am looking forward to retreat! I need this so badly!
7. This weekend's plans... tomorrow we are picking up our baby girl (K5) and heading to The Meadow for clean up day (unless it's cancelled due to the rain that just won't stop). The Meadow has been timbered, so there is a lot to do to prepare for the first campout, which is about a month away. I haven't been down there since the timbering happened, but I understand it's a mess. We'll wrap up earlier than we want to, I'm sure, to take K5 back to her momma and get ready for an anniversary party in the evening. (I need to remember to buy a gift for that... crap... I should have done that tonight!) We will then have Baby B overnight since his folks are out of town for appointments and such. Sunday is laundry, grocery shopping... the boring stuff... Oh wait. No. We have tickets to the baseball game to see K3 sing the national anthem with his school...
8. Watching old episodes of Supernatural. For some reason, watching makes me remember who I am and who I want to be. I think it has something to do with where I was when I originally watched these episodes - with friends talking about hopes and dreams, working on projects I still love. It's nostalgic and energizing. I don't know if that makes any sense.
9. Final proof copy and cover art received for Cursed Fate! Also, I ordered postcards, stickers, and a very cool notebook! I'm very excited for this book!
10.... Bedtime! I have felt like a zombie all night, but I did some necessary shopping on my way home, made cookies, paid the bills, did dishes, completed pending correspondences, caught up on emails, did laundry, organized my filebox... I need sleep...
And sleep I shall have. I hope. If I can...
Behave!

Cursed Fate Cover Reveal

Here it is! Coming from Liquid Silver on May 26!
The blurb:
When artist and occasional witch Taylor Reed finds her ex-husband murdered in her kitchen, she denies what she really saw. Fearing the ominous presence will make her its next victim, she runs—right into Ben Jones.
Ben is a retired demon hunter, and though he’s left his former life behind, he’s compelled to help Taylor find answers and stop the demon hunting her. That’s not all he’s compelled to do…
A family curse, a binding ritual neither knew they were part of, and a demon who can’t be stopped unless Taylor and Ben resist their feelings—Cursed Fate is a journey of survival, and proof true love really can conquer all.
I'm so excited!
Behave!

Easter Fun...

We had a really great day!
Hung out at my sister's with the family and a bunch of dogs! The dogs were hysterical and played themselves out! Elsa is completely sacked on the couch. She hasn't moved since we got home.
We had our first Easter egg hunt in probably ten years with Baby B, my great niece, and my niece's boyfriend's little sister. The teenagers hid the eggs, which was hysterical! Baby B was all about running and making his turkey noises and didn't care about the eggs. Too funny!
We had a ton of great food...except for my gluten free, vegan, dairy free potato casserole. Yuck! (I made a regular version that was actually good!) I didn't realize vegan ricotta cheese is sweet! It was not good!
It was a good day! We need more days like it! I got to see all of my kids, both of my sisters, but not my brother (he was under a pile of homework). But my sister-in-law and nieces were there, and my niece's boyfriend, and my nephew and his fiancee, and my parents, and new friends. My niece's boyfriend's parents also came and it's always fun to see them.
K3 stayed. The teenagers are camping in the backyard. K3 doesn't have school tomorrow. K4 does.
On the way home, K5 called. She's hysterical and we had an interesting conversation about dog's dancing.
I hope you had a good day too!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday!

Hey... Feel Good Friday on Friday! How rare is that? Ha!
Here's the list...
1. Friday. Yeah. If you've been keeping up, you understand!
2. No cooking tonight... Everyone was on their own for dinner. Plenty of leftovers and other stuff to make... Come to think of it... I never did eat anything for dinner.
3. Pizza for lunch! Though by the time I got to eat, it was cold, but it was still good.
4. Doughnuts for breakfast! I got way too many and brought almost a dozen home, but they were appreciated.
5. Feeling like I have a handle on things. I know this feeling won't last, but for now I will take it!
6. Having not much to do tomorrow... besides laundry, some cleaning, shopping, cooking... Oh and sleeping in!
7. Sunday's plans. Looking forward to my grandson's first Easter egg hunt, the food, and hanging out with my awesome family.
8. This week - even though it's been long, it's been good.
9. Flamingos! I will post pictures then, but Kris' school had a fundraiser to "flock" yards. We did three yards and they all have happened. Two very good friends, and our parents. It was fantastic!
10. Dr. Who marathon tonight! We're still at the very beginning, but it is renewing my love. That's a very good thing!
That is all. I think the Dr. Who watching will commence from the comfort of my bed...
Behave!

Is It Friday Yet?

This has been a really long week!! I think I said that on Tuesday and nothing has changed. Late nights of running errands and wrangling pies and kid homework and all of that stuff. I'm totally burned out.
The upside is that my final line edits are done and turned in as of last night. Yay! And I have a handle on the story I'm writing for Halloween. And I also know what I'm writing next!
The other upside is my kid's great report card! She really turned things around! Yay!
The pie sale was a nightmare! My helpers did a really good job, but some pies got mixed up due to having to move them twice. Money is a wreck, scout accounts need to be re-figured, I have 4 extra pies needing homes in my freezer... I'm so done with it. I hate pie more now than I did on Wednesday.
One more day to work and I don't have to deal with teenagers in the morning since they're off! I also don't have to take lunch tomorrow, which is cool. Our sales rep has bought pizza for tomorrow. I'm also taking the guys in the store doughnuts in the morning to thank them for putting up with me and answering my million questions. They don't know I'm bringing them yet. It's been good to work in the store. They're good guys with a lot of knowledge and a twisted sense of humor and I've gotten a good handle on a lot of product and procedures, and have learned a lot of stuff, but it's been so slow the past week. I still have not heard a bad word about the company, which, after three weeks, is a very good thing. Monday I go back to corporate and my desk. I am looking forward to it.
Retreat is in 27 days! I have a lot to do for it, but this is the fun stuff! I so need this retreat!
But I need to sleep now... For like a week!
Behave!

It's Tuesday?

Sorry, but this week has already been so very long. Seriously.
I am beyond tired. And my toe(s) still hurt, though not as bad as they did even this morning. I have a big bruise, and another bruise forming, but I'm not sure I have any kind of a break now. At least I don't think.
Today is tax day. I mailed my returns (the ones I owed on. The other was done electronically last week) on Saturday. I hate writing that check and I hope this is the last year I have to do it. Damn.
Today is also my parent's 53 wedding anniversary. How cool is that? Five kids and fifty-three years and they still love and like each other? Awesome stuff!
I'm currently working on my final line edits for Cursed Fate. I'm about 90% done, which means the easy stuff is done and I only need to go back and hit the stuff I have to think about. I'll share my cover as soon as I get it, but it should be out around the end of May.
We have around 235 pies coming in for scouts tomorrow. I screwed this thing up big this time because I added wrong and ended up ordering 30 extra chocolate whipped cream pies. Oy! Luckily, all but 5 or 6 are now taken, but man, I feel like a jerk! It's been chaos organizing the extras and I'm stressing because I won't be there to do the sorting and counting tomorrow. I have two really great volunteers helping until That Man and I can get there, but still...
Anyway...
I need to go to bed...
Behave!

Monday Craziness...

Yeah, so, it's my birthday. I was trying to keep everything on the down low. I'm not particularly fond of being the center of attention, but That Man and K2 had other plans.
I go into work this morning and was greeted by a huge good morning from the receptionist. She's always very pleasant so I didn't think anything of it. As I started walking to my desk, my boss comes running out and tells me in a kind of stern voice that she needs to see me immediately. I'm thinking - "Oh crap. I'm going to get fired on my birthday" I start walking towards the conference room, but she leads me into our break room instead, where there are balloons, a cake, and fabulous Dunkin Donuts coffee. I look at her and she said "Surprise, your husband and daughter set this up." I'm stunned and almost cry, but don't. Instead I call them jerks (in the loving-est of ways). And then I laugh because one of the balloons is this huge cow. It's hysterical and I knew right away that K2 had picked it. They got up early to gather everything and drop it off before I got there. How awesome is that? My boss tells me to get my cake now, because That Man brought the cake and coffee for everyone and she wanted to make sure I got mine before she sent an email telling everyone about the cake / coffee.
I do that, log in, and head across the street to the store to start my last week of store training. To sum up, it was a good day. I meet more of my coworkers because they went out of their way to come up to me to say Happy Birthday. That was very cool. I had work emails from so many people, including the bosses, which was also cool! (All of this makes me love my job even more!)
K1 and K2 ended up in a lengthy Facebook conversation on my wall. It included a ton of Nic Cage meme's, which had me laughing hysterically even though I had over 110 emails in my inbox as a result. I had a lot of nice messages, too.
That Man made grilled garlic chicken, potatoes, and asparagus for dinner. I didn't have to cook, clean up, or even thing about dinner, laundry, or much else. We did watch Baby B for a little while, which was very good. I missed him and he's so funny. And he loves his Nanners and Pappy! He wanted my cow balloon! (Shush! I'll get him an Easter balloon!)
The only downsides were K4 not feeling well :( and me (I think) breaking at least one toe, maybe two. I was heading upstairs to change into my comfy pants and when I went over the baby gate, I cracked my toes on the steps. Hard. They hurt. Really, really bad - like I can't put weight on them bad. (and no, I had not had one single adult libation!) Which totally sucks, because my feet actually felt good today and now I have to deal with the pain again.
Oh and my awesome parents got me gnomes for my birthday! I love it! They're very cute. I will take a picture of them soon!
So that was my birthday. Awesome! But I didn't get any older. Just so you know...
Behave!

Weekend Wrap Up

So apparently I didn't end up with any kind of sinus infection... at least not that I can tell at this moment. I'm still fighting this crud, but it's not as bad as it was on Friday.
This weekend has been crazy! But way too much fun...
Saturday - K4 and I went on a run for shorts and bras, then did the grocery shopping. (That Man and I went to the store again later) When we got home we helped with the yard work. She did homework, then we all went to K2 and J's house for dinner. We had a blast! We ate tacos, talked, laughed, and played a really fun game that had us all laughing so hard we couldn't breathe. It was very good.
Today - That Man and I dropped the van off at our mechanics because it sucks and won't stay running. Damn. We stopped at a friend's house to pick up a computer he generously offered us. That's a lifesaver. Now I don't have to give up mine for homework and can finally get some writing done. We came home and finished cleaning up, sent K3 and K4 to get gas and to the store (again... really?). Then, the family came over for a cookout and to celebrate our parents anniversary. Their anniversary is really on Tuesday, but this was the perfect day to get together. The weather was beautiful. We grilled, talked, laughed, and my puppy got to play with my niece's puppy. They wore each other out, which is a very good thing. Elsa is so tired and snoring on the floor. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everyone. We definitely need to do this more often!
Oh wait... we will. Next weekend at Easter.
I did a little writing. Not enough to catch up with myself, but some. My feet are still hurting and I have to be on them again all day tomorrow. I still have laundry to do and I still have teenagers in my house. But I need to go to sleep, because that sleep thing... It didn't happen too much this weekend. Ha!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday

Hey! It's actually Friday! This stupid cold has made this a very long week! My butt is dragging! I thought I felt better yesterday, but as it turns out... I don't. I have a killer headache over one eye and down one side of my face. Yes. I know what that probably means. I'm not listening right now though...
So... Let's do the list, shall we?
1. Still having feet to walk on... Yeah. They hurt. And I'm actually bruised, but the new shoes seem to be working out well. Today was better.
2. It's Friday. I lived through the week. Yay!
3. That Man taking care of the shopping and dinners this week. And picking up the slack around the house and kid kingdom - picking up, dropping off, taking care of stuff... He's very qualified to do these things and very capable. I'm just not used to not coordinating everything. It's a little weird for me not to know everything that needs to be done, but really good, too.
4. Writing. I'm a little behind in my goal, but not that far behind.
5. Getting the taxes done and paid. Yay on being done, but boo on the checks I had to write!
6. Plans for the weekend. They're changing somewhat, but still good.
7. Sleeping in tomorrow. That Man insists he's waking me up at six, but that is not going to happen!
8. Our puppy! She's getting so big and calming down for the most part. She's only four months old, but she's so smart (when she's not being dumb! ha!).
That's all I have. This week has been a huge blur for me. I understand I'm still in adjustment phase, but it's been crazy. Between the cold and errands, I haven't sat down at a decent time any night this week. And I discovered I ended up ordering over 30 extra chocolate cream pies for the Boy Scout pie sale! Oy! I hope I can work that one out!
That is all...
Behave!

Yeah...Well...

So... the cold thing has hit me...
I'm trying so hard to soldier through. Taking meds (forgive me for typing errors). Using a ton of tissues. Wishing I could sleep for sixteen years. I'm showing up for my job and doing my best. (I'm not sure the folks I'm working with feel the same. I'm training in retail for the next few weeks, so I'm bugging the guys in the store and trying to learn how to do all of that stuff...)
I'm tired...
I'm trying so hard to do everything I have to do. My feet are killing me. I purchased new shoes tonight. New shoes that cost more than I wanted to spend, but they feel so nice on my oh-so-sore-feet! I hope I feel the same way tomorrow.
I need to go to bed...
But... I still love my new job...
Behave!

Gearing Up For Monday

Again!
I'm really okay with it! I do very much enjoy my new job, but I'm still so tired! I even took a nap today!
It's been a pretty productive Sunday around here! I finished our taxes...all that's left is the check writing! UGH!!!
I paid bills, too. Also UGH!
We're in blast mode in my writing group, so I hosted a blast this morning and met my daily word goal. I missed the second blast due to kids needing my laptop for homework...
Laundry is done. The house is semi-decent.
I made taco soup for dinner.
That Man and I hit the gym. (Our set up in the basement)
And played the puppy out.
But...
I didn't get everything on my to do list done... dang! Though I did try! It was really nice to just relax at home for a change! I didn't even change out of my Jammies! Also we went from the stomach flu to the cold flu... K3 had the stomach flu and K4 has the cold... Erg! I really hope I get neither!!
I know. Lame post!
Behave!

Feel Good Friday - The Saturday Edition

I know it's almost Sunday, but here's the list....
1. The dryer is fixed! Yay for clothes that aren't stiff!
2. Making writing progress!
3. The new job! I dig it! I have, so far, found no negatives!
4. My puppy learning new things and growing up.
5. The oncoming end of the school year!
6. Retreat coming up! YAY!!
7. Getting to hang out with my grandson! He is so stinking cute!
8. The warm weather that's supposed to be here?
9. Easter plans...
10. Coordinating things and end of the school year things and stuff like that... Ha... That seems cryptic, but it's really not. The kids only have about 30 days of school left...
That's all...
Behave!

Thursday Stuff...

Okay, so...
I realized I mentioned I was starting my new job Monday and then never said anything else about it. I love my new job! I'm in training so I'm not so good at some things, but I'm learning. I love how everyone made me feel like I belonged there on my first day!
I think I'm catching on at an okay pace. I won't know until I get some feedback, but I feel like I'm catching on.
I will say how glad I am for tomorrow to be Friday. I'm exhausted, but it's a good kind of exhausted. For the most part. It's been a really long week without downtime around here. Not bad, but tiring.
That's it for now...
I am hoping to post Feel Good Friday tomorrow, but I might fall asleep...
Behave!

April Fool

It's been a while since we've had a really good April Fool's joke around here.... I wasn't even thinking about it this year since I'm in the middle of training and so totally brain dead...
But...
Let me give you the back story...
On Saturday, I attempted to log in to my electric companies website to pay my bill. I was redirected to a place where I was supposed to register all of my accounts. What? I have one. It's already registered. I just want to pay my freaking bill.. I get nowhere. I send an email to customer service. I stop trying.
So Monday morning, I can't sleep. I wake up at four am and try as I might, I'm up. I decide to tackle the electric company website again. When I clicked, I got their page, but every picture and flash thingy and everything was pictures of Nicholas Cage. I didn't even know what to say... I was kind of afraid that the site had some kind of virus so I quickly wrote down the contact info and closed everything down.
I tried to call the electric company on my lunch break. I got no where. They said they had an abnormally high volume of calls, so I figured everyone was seeing Nic Cage.
I had plans Monday night to see the friends I never see. I went to dinner and had a great time, though I left way way earlier than I wanted to. I get home to chaos. The grandson is here. Dinner for the following day is under construction. Homework is being done. Things finally calm down and I log onto my computer....
Every freaking picture is Nicholas Cage... every picture in my email, every profile picture, meme, picture of mine, advertising... EVERYTHING....
I go into freak out mode thinking the electric company website gave me some kind of virus. I'm running scans, complaining... you get the picture.
The kid, K4, says... "Sometimes extensions can do that to you." I pretty much ignore her, because I don't have any extensions... forgetting the fact that I've let her use my computer to do her homework...
She starts laughing hysterically...
I check my extensions and see "nic cage"...
Yeah... She got me. Big time. And it was one of the most hysterical things ever!
I finally managed to pay the electric bill, then received an email back from their customer service telling me the site was down for maintenance. How lucky does my kid get with her prank?
Oh wait.... This kid was the one conceived on April 1. She wins. No matter what!
Behave!
ps... I love my new job! (and that's no joke)